“The major investment and commercial banking firms continued their strong performance, especially in equities trading and underwriting,” said Alan Johnson, managing director of Johnson Associates and one of the nation’s foremost authorities on Wall Street compensation. “Private-equity firms also turned in a second straight year of healthy financial results and strong fundraising.”

Johnson said 2019 is looking less rosy. “Ongoing business challenges, including fee compressions, geopolitical influences and business efficiencies driven by technology, are likely to have an industry-wide, downward impact on compensation and head count,” he said. “While financial-sector businesses are still inherently healthy, the business challenges are expected to catch-up with them.”

MarketWatch / November 13, 2018

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